Paul Tracy: The Next Indy 500 Winner?

When Paul Tracy last stepped foot into Gasoline Alley, he was a robbed man.

During the final moments of the 2002 Indianapolis 500, Paul Tracy had eventual winner Helio Castroneves in his sights. He inched closer and closer to the realization of a dream; his dream of being a 500 champion.

Finally, Tracy made his move, but it was a split-second too late. Just as Tracy was making the pass between the third and fourth turns, Laurent Redon and Buddy Lazier got together and crashed and brought out a caution.

Unfortunately for Tracy it was too little, too late. He did not complete the pass of Castroneves before the caution came out, therefore clinching the second Indy 500 win for Castroneves and the 12th win for car owner Roger Penske.

Despite numerous protests by Tracy and team owner Barry Green, the original decision was upheld and Castroneves was declared the champion.

To this day, Tracy still declares himself the 2002 Indy 500 winner.

Soon, he will get a chance to tackle the Greatest Spectacle in Racing again.

Or will he?

When the open-wheel unification occurred, it was assumed that Tracy’s Champ Car team, Forsythe Racing, would make the transition to the IRL. But it was reported today that Forsythe Racing is closing shop due to a lack of sponsors in the new league.

So, if Tracy returns to Indy, it will not be in as a member of Forsythe. So, who will take the risk of hiring Tracy.

He is an accomplished driver and racer. Tracy made his race debut at the 1991 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and has amassed 31 career wins. His career culminated in 2003 when he won the Champ Car series championship.

Somebody please pick up their phone and call Tracy. He needs to be participating in the IRL. He needs to be driving in a top-notch open-wheel racing series. He has flirted with notion of joining other open-wheel drivers in NASCAR, but that is not Tracy’s cup of tea. NASCAR has enough open-wheel drivers now. They can wait.

Tracy needs redemption. He deserves an opportunity to settle his score with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Whether it is a new IRL team or an already-established team, somebody needs to pick up the phone, send an e-mail, a text message – something – and hire Paul Tracy.

Whether on a part-time or full-time basis, Tracy needs to be behind the wheel when the IRL seasons kicks off in Homestead, Florida on March 29.

But, if the powers that be in the open-wheel fraternity opt not to hire Tracy for the season, at least hire him to run the Indy 500.

You never know. Karma works in mysterious ways. Perhaps this year Tracy will be claiming victory while another driver cries “foul.”